Upcoming Talks
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The Enduring Legend of The Leatherman
He remains an enigma. Nobody knows his true identity, and yet many people feel like they know him. The Leatherman was a “hobo” who spent the last 6 years of his life walking in the same, circuitous route of 360 miles, every 34 days, like clockwork between the Hudson and Connecticut Rivers in western CT and eastern NY. He always slept in caves and never caused any trouble. In fact, he was like a folk hero to many. Hear the details of this unusualy man’s life at this talk with Mike Allen.
Thu, May 23, 2024; 6:30 p.m.
Burlington Public LIbrary
ZOOM ONLY - register with library
(open to the public)
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Ode to the Housatonic Railroad
The iconic Housatonic Railroad continues to chug along, some 185 years after its first maiden run from Bridgeport to New Milford in 1840. It marked the arrival of a revolutionary new form of transportation – one that replaced stagecoaches and canal barges. The Housatonic has survived numerous ownership changes, the ending of passenger service, and a long period of inactivity along a crucial stretch of the line. But it’s still operating freight service today.
You’ll hear all about this scenic route and learn where the former passenger stations were locatedWed, Jun 5, 2024: 7:30 p.m.
Brookfield Historical Society
(open to the public)
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The Weekend the British Burned Danbury
It was fairly early on in the Revolutionary War when the British decided to destroy the Patriot military supply center in Danbury, so that George Washington’s troops couldn’t get logistical reinforcements. However, the April, 1777 weekend when the British raid occurred didn’t go exactly as planned for the British, as they met resistance wherever they went - which greatly surprised them. You can hear about the fiery raid on Danbury, the Battle of Ridgefield, and the skirmish in Saugatuck at this presentation.
Tue, Jun 11, 2024; 6:30 p.m.
Seymour Public Library
(open to the public)
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The Devil-Made-Me-Do-It Murder Case
It was President’s Day in 1981, a national holiday that was shattered in Brookfield when the town’s first-ever murder occurred - a stabbing death at a local dog kennel. Making matters stranger, the girlfriend of the accused would tell reporters that her boyfriend was innocent, because he was demonically possessed and it was the devil who did the stabbing. Mike Allen covered the case and appears in the current Netflix documentary The Devil on Trial. He’ll share his insights.
Tue, Jun 18, 2024; 6:30 p.m.
Danbury Public Library
ZOOM ONLY - register with library
(open to the public)
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Connecticut's Forgotten Relationship with the High Seas
For centuries, Long Island Sound has been Connecticut’s gateway to the high seas and several incredible stories from the era of whale hunting and exploration are Connecticut’s alone - like the first American to spot Antarctica, the recovery of a British ship that turned into the President’s Resolute Desk in the Oval Office, to hosting the last intact wooden whaling ship, to hosting an array of eye-catching lighthouses. Hear about our state’s oftentimes forgotten history with the oceans at this presentation.
Thu, Jun 27, 2024; 7:00 p.m.
Ridgefield Public Library
ZOOM ONLY - register with library
(open to the public)
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The Enduring Legend of The Leatherman
Imagine walking the exact same loop route, through the exact same towns, every 34 days for 6 years in a row. That’s what a hobo called The Leatherman did in western CT and eastern NY. His 365-mile route was so precise that townspeople could predict when he would arrive again, like a full moon. Among the mysteries: who was he? And what happened to his leather suit and body? Hear the story in this presentation.
Thu, Jul 25, 2024; 6:30 p.m.
Woodbury Public Library
(open to the public)
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When CT Thumbed its Nose at Prohibition
Connecticut was against the idea of a ban on alcohol from the earliest days of its proposal. When the Constitution was amended, however, it became the law of the land. How did CT respond? The state essentially thumbed its nose at the ban. Many rum-runners and bootleggers populated the state, especially along Long Island Sound, where boats brought booze into the state regularly. Hear all about it at this presentation.
Wed, Jan 8, 2025; 6:30 p.m.
EC Scranton Memorial Library in Madison
(open to the public)
Previous Talks
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The Devil-Made-Me-Do-It Murder Case
May 13, 2024
Humanists-Freethinkers of Fairfield County
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How CT Thumbed its Nose at Prohibition
May 8, 2024
East Granby Historical Society
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The Devil-Made-Me-Do-It Murder Case
May 3, 2024
Greater Danbury Bar Association
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The Battle of Charcoal Run
May 2, 2024
Watertown Public Library
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Redding's Favorite Son: Mark Twain
April 25, 2025
Sherman Public Library
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How the Battle of Ridgefield Impacted the Revolutionary War
April 24, 2024
Ridgefield Historical Society
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The Enduring Legend of The Leatherman
April 17, 2024
Killingworth Public Library
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The Weekend the British Burned Danbury
April 9, 2024
Drum Hill Daughters of the American Revolution
Wilton Library
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The Greatest Showman on Earth: PT Barnum
March 20, 2024
North Branford Public Library
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How CT Thumbed its Nose at Prohibition
March 15, 2024
New Haven Free Public Library
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The Weekend the British Burned Danbury
March 11, 2024
Lady Fenwick Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution
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Did a CT Woman Kill Jack the Ripper?
March 7, 2024
Bethel Public Library
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The Greatest Showman on Earth: PT Barnum
February 27, 2024
Danbury-New Fairfield Women’s Club
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The Enduring Legacy of The Leatherman
February 21, 2024
North Branford Public Library
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The Devil-Made-Me-Do-It Murder Case
January 31, 2024
New Milford Public Library
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The Weekend the British Burned Danbury
January 25, 2024
Ridgefield Public Library
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The Devil-Made-Me-Do-It Murder Case
January 24, 2024
North Branford Library
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How CT Thumbed Its Nose at Prohibition
January 17, 2024
Wallingford Public Library
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It Split CT in Half - Physically and Politically: The Farmington Canal
December 7, 2023
Farmington Public Library
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The Legend of The Leatherman Lives On
December 6, 2023
Seymour Public Library
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The Legend of The Leatherman Lives On
December 6, 2023
Greater Danbury Area Men’s Club
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The Greatest Showman on Earth: P.T. Barnum
November 19, 2023
Newtown Historical Society
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The Legend of The Leatherman Lives On
November 15, 2023
New Fairfield Historical Society
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The Greatest Showman on Earth: P.T. Barnum
November 8, 2023
Sherman Public Library
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The Devil-Made-Me-Do-It Murder Case
October 26, 2023
Bethel Public Library
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How CT Thumbed its Nose at Prohibition
October 18, 2023
New Fairfield Historical Society
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Hiding in Plain Sight: CT's Stone Mile Markers
October 5, 2023
New Fairfield Historical Society
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The Legend of the Leatherman Lives On
September 27, 2023
Sherman Public Library
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The Trail of the Whispering Giants
September 20, 2023
Cheshire Public Library
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Moses Cleaveland and the Western Reserve
September 8, 2023
Canterbury Historical Society
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The Farmington Canal: It Split Connecticut Physically and Politically
July 12, 2023
Cheshire Public Library
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Redding's Favorite Son: Mark Twain
June 28, 2023
New Fairfield Historical Society
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Amazing Tales CT: Podcasting About Connecticut History
June 27, 2023
East Hampton Public Library
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Did a CT Woman Kill Jack the Ripper?
June 15, 2023
New Fairfield Senior Center
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The Weekend the British Burned Danbury
May 20, 2023
Mary Clap Wooster Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution
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Ode to the Housatonic Railroad
April 4, 2023
New Milford Library
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Amazing Tales CT: Podcasting About Connecticut History
March 30, 2023
Mark Twain Library
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The British Raid on Danbury
March 28, 2023
Redding Chapter of the American Revolution History Club
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Mark Twain: A Connecticut Yankee?
March 13, 2023
Humanists-Freethinkers of Fairfield County
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The Greatest Showman on Earth: PT Barnum
March 9, 2023
New Fairfield Senior Center
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Stone Mile Markers in Connecticut
February 21, 2023
Woodbury Public Library (Zoom)
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Did a CT Woman Kill Jack the Ripper?
February 18, 2023
New Milford Public Library
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Ode to the Housatonic Railroad
February 7, 2023
New Milford Public Library/Zoom -
Prohibition in Connecticut
January 26, 2023
The Linden
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The Civil War Battle of Charcoal Run
January 11, 2023
Greater Danbury Men’s Club
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The Greatest Showman on Earth: PT Barnum
January 5, 2023
Bethel Library
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The Leatherman
November 30, 2022
The Linden
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The Greatest Showman on Earth: PT Barnum
November 1, 2022
New Fairfield Historical Society
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The Devil-Made-Me-Do-It Murder Case
October 20, 2022
The Linden
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The Civil War Battle of Charcoal Run
October 12, 2022
New Fairfield Historical Society
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Did a CT Woman Kill Jack the Ripper?
September 9, 2022
Merwinsville Hotel
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The Devil-Made-Me-Do-It Murder Case
August 17, 2022
New Fairfield Historical Society
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The Weekend the British Burned Danbury
July 20, 2022
New Fairfield Historical Society
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Ode to the Housatonic Railroad
June 22, 2022
New Fairfield Historical Society
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The Trail of the Whispering Giants
March 16, 2022
Groton Library
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The Leatherman
December 9, 2021
New Fairfield Senior Center
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Former Stations on the Housatonic Railroad
September 10, 2021
Merwinsville Hotel
Booking Contact
amazingtalesct@gmail.com